Universal joint

Abstract

A universal joint includes a spider, first and second yokes drivingly interconnected by the spider, a plurality of bearing cups and a plurality of retaining members. The first yoke includes spaced apart arms with apertures extending through each arm. The apertures are coaxially aligned with one another and include a circumferential groove spaced apart from an edge of the arm. Each bearing cup is positioned within one of the apertures and in receipt of one of the trunnions. A portion of each bearing cup is positioned in communication with a corresponding groove. Each retaining member is operable to complement the size and shape of the corresponding groove, bearing cup and aperture such that each retaining member couples one of the bearing cups to its associated arm.

1. A shaft assembly, comprising:
 a first shaft having a first yoke, said first yoke including a first aperture having a first groove and a discrete recess communicating with said first groove, the recess axially extending beyond an edge of the first groove; 
 a second shaft having a second yoke, said second yoke including a second aperture having a second groove; 
 a spider having a first trunnion positioned within said first aperture of said first yoke and a second trunnion positioned within said second aperture of said second yoke; 
 a first bearing cup mounted on said first trunnion within said first aperture, said first bearing cup including an end plate segment aligned with said first groove; 
 a second bearing cup mounted on said second trunnion within said second aperture; and 
 a first retention member that is formed in-situ following solidification of a molten polymeric material injected into said first groove and said recess such that a lug is formed within said recess. 
 
   
   
     2. The shaft assembly of  claim 1  wherein said first retention member includes a first ring segment disposed within said first groove which engages a tubular segment of said first bearing cup, and a second ring segment connected to said first ring segment and which engages an end plate segment of said first bearing cup, and wherein said lug extends from said first ring segment of said first retention member. 
   
   
     3. The shaft assembly of  claim 2  wherein said second ring segment of said first retention member includes an aperture exposing a portion of said end plate segment of said first bearing cup to atmosphere. 
   
   
     4. The shaft assembly of  claim 2  wherein an outer wall surface of said tubular segment of said first bearing cup engages an inner wall surface of said first aperture such that said first segment of said first retention member engages a portion of said outer wall surface that is aligned with said first groove. 
   
   
     5. The shaft assembly of  claim 1  wherein said recess extends circumferentially about an arc length that is less than the entire circumference of said first groove. 
   
   
     6. The shaft assembly of  claim 1  wherein said recess has an arcuate shape with a radius that is smaller than the radius of said first groove. 
   
   
     7. A shaft assembly, comprising:
 a first shaft; 
 a second shaft; and 
 a universal joint interconnecting said first and second shafts, said universal joint including a first yoke fixed for rotation with said first shaft and having a first aperture defining a first annular groove, a second yoke fixed for rotation with said second shaft and having a second aperture defining a second annular groove, a spider having a first trunnion disposed in said first aperture and a second trunnion disposed in said second aperture, a first bearing cup mounted on said first trunnion and positioned within said first aperture such that its end plate seqment is aligned with said first groove, a second bearing cup mounted on said second trunnion within said second aperture, and first and second retention members formed in-situ upon solidification of a molten polymeric material injected into said first and second grooves, said first retention member including a first ring segment disposed within said first groove that engages a cylindrical segment of said first bearing cup, wherein said first aperture includes a discrete recess extending outwardly from an edge of said first groove such that an anti-rotation lug is formed therein and engages said cylindrical segment of said first bearing cup upon solidification of said molten polymeric material. 
 
   
   
     8. The shaft assembly of  claim 7  wherein said first retention member includes a second ring segment connected to said first ring segment that engages an end plate segment of said first bearing cup, said second ring segment of said first retention member including an aperture exposing a portion of said end plate segment of said first bearing cup to atmosphere. 
   
   
     9. The shaft assembly of  claim 7  wherein an outer wall surface of said cylindrical segment of said first bearing cup engages an inner wall surface of said first aperture such that said first segment of said first retention member engages a portion of said outer wall surface that is aligned with said first groove. 
   
   
     10. The shaft assembly of  claim 7  wherein said recess communicates with said first groove and extends axially beyond said edge of said first groove. 
   
   
     11. The shaft assembly of  claim 7  wherein said recess extends circumferentially about an arc length that is less than the entire circumference of said first groove. 
   
   
     12. A shaft assembly, comprising:
 a first shaft; 
 a second shaft; and 
 a universal joint interconnecting said first and second shafts, said universal joint including a first yoke fixed for rotation with said first shaft and having a first aperture defining a first annular groove, a second yoke fixed for rotation with said second shaft and having a second aperture defining a second annular groove, a spider having a first trunnion disposed in said first aperture and a second trunnion disposed in said second aperture, a first bearing cup mounted on said first trunnion within said first aperture, a second bearing cup mounted on said second trunnion within said second aperture, and first and second retention members formed in-situ upon solidification of a molten polymeric material injected into said first and second grooves, said first retention member including a first ring segment disposed within said first groove that engages a cylindrical segment of said first bearing cup, wherein said first aperture includes a discrete recess extending outwardly from an edge of said first groove such that an anti-rotation lug is formed therein that engages said cylindrical segment of said first bearing cup upon solidification of said molten polymeric material, wherein said recess has an arcuate shape with a radius that is smaller than the radius of said first groove. 
 
   
   
     13. A shaft assembly, comprising:
 a first shaft; 
 a second shaft; and 
 a universal joint interconnecting said first and second shafts, said universal joint including a first yoke fixed for rotation with said first shaft and having a first aperture defining a first annular groove, a second yoke fixed for rotation with said second shaft and having a second aperture defining a second annular groove, a spider having a first trunnion disposed in said first aperture and a second trunnion disposed in said second aperture, a first bearing cup mounted on said first trunnion within said first aperture, a second bearing cup mounted on said second trunnion within said second aperture, and first and second retention members formed in-situ upon solidification of a molten polymeric material injected into said first and second grooves, wherein said first retention member engages a planar surface of an end segment and an outer surface of a tubular sleeve segment of said first bearing cup. 
 
   
   
     14. The shaft assembly of  claim 13  wherein said first retention member includes a first ring segment disposed within said first groove which engages said tubular segment of said first bearing cup, and a second ring segment connected to said first ring segment and which engages said end segment of said first bearing cup. 
   
   
     15. The shaft assembly of  claim 14  wherein said first bearing cup is positioned within said first aperture such that its end segment is aligned with said first groove. 
   
   
     16. The shaft assembly of  claim 14  wherein said second ring segment of said first retention member includes an aperture exposing a portion of said end segment of said first bearing cup to atmosphere. 
   
   
     17. The shaft assembly of  claim 13  wherein said first aperture includes a discrete recess formed along an edge of said first groove such that an anti-rotation lug is formed therein upon solidification of said molten polymeric material. 
   
   
     18. The shaft assembly of  claim 17  wherein said recess communicates with said first groove and extends axially beyond said edge of said first groove. 
   
   
     19. The shaft assembly of  claim 17  wherein said recess extends circumferentially about an arc length that is less than the entire circumference of said first groove. 
   
   
     20. The shaft assembly of  claim 17  wherein said recess has an arcuate shape with a radius that is smaller than the radius of said first groove.